Turbine locomotive



W. A. BRECHT lETAL TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26. 19.43

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Feb. 5, 1946.

WITNESES:

Feb. 5, 1946. A.HBRECHT ET AL TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1943 WITNESSES:

`longitudinally of the locomotive.

Patented Feb. 5, 1946 TURBINE LOCOMOTIVE Winston A. Brecht, Forest Hills, and Frank L.

Alben, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Claims.

Our invention relates, generally to railway locomotives and, more particularly, to locomotives which are driven by steam turbines.

In order to increase the efllciency and provide high speed motive power for hauling larger freight and passenger trains, it is necessary to provide locomotives having more horsepower output which are capable of hauling trains at a speed of 100 miles per hour or higher. The utilization of steam turbines as the prime movers for locomotives makes possible the provision of locomotives fulfilling the foregoing requirements. However, the application of steam turbines to locomotives involves certain problems, among which are the mounting of the turbines in the locomotives and transmitting their torque to the driving axles.

An object of our invention, generally stated, is to provide a turbine-driven locomotive which-shall lbe simple and eilcient in operation and which may be economicallymanufactured and installed.,

A more specic object of our invention is to Application August 26, 1943, Serial No. 500,097

(Cl. S- 38) Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, the portion of a locomotive structure shown therein comprises a frame III, the side members of which are disposed inside o f wheels II which are mounted on driving axles I2. The frame I0 may be mounted on the` axles I2 by means of journal bearings I3 of the usual type. Inorder to simplify the drawings, only two driving axles have been shown. It will be understood that additional driving axles may be provided, if desired.

The'power for propelling the locomotive may 'be developed by a steam turbine I4 which is provide .for driving a plurality of the axles of a locomotive from a single turbine.

Another object of our invention is to provide a double-reduction gear drive for a turbine locomotive.

A further object of our invention is to provide for mounting a reduction gear unit between adjacent axles ofA a locomotive.

Still another object of our invention is to provide for reversing a turbine-driven locomotive.

Other objects of our invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be -apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of our invention, the turbine for driving a locomotive is mounted with its axis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive frame and is connected through a reversing unit to a drive shaft which extends A low speed gear is mounted on each driving axle and the low speed gears for a pair of adjacent axles are both connected to a common gear unit disposed between theaxles and driven by the drive shaft.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of our invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, Partially in plan'and partially in section. of a. portion of a locomotive structure embodying our invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in elevationl and parmounted in the frame II) with its axis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive. The front end of the turbine I4 is supported by a pair of brackets I5, secured to a cross member of, the frame I0, and the rear end is supported by brackets I6 secured to the side members of the frame I0.

In order to reverse the direction oi operation of the locomotive, a reverse gear unit I'I may be mounted on the rear end of the turbine I4. The reverse gear unit IIvmay be of a type having a slidable member for controlling the direction of operation, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The torque developed by -the turbine I4 is transmitted to the driving axles I2 through a drive shaft I8, a reduction gear unit I9, which is disposed between the adjacent axles I2, and additional reduction gear units 2l, one of which is mounted on each one of the driving axles I2 and cooperates with the unit I9 in driving the axles.

The gear units I9 and 2I- may be of the type disclosed in the copending application of W. A. Brecht, Serial No.1500,096, led August 26, 1943. As shown, the gear unit I9 is supported bybrackets 22, which may be removably securedto the. side members of the frame I0, thereby rigidly mounting the gear unit I9 in the truck frame. Each gear unit 2l is supported by one of the axles I2 and is so connected to the gear unit I9 by a" coupling `2l), that a predetermined amount of relative motion is permitted between the axle gear units 2I and the intermediate gear unit I9. In this manner both axles of a' pair of adjacent .axles may be driven from av single ,'gear unit disposed-between the axles, thereby simplifying and reducing the size and Weight of the gearing structure. Since the drive shaft I8 may readily be extended, additional pairs of driving axles may be driven in the manner hereindescribed. Thus, the torque from a single turbine may be transmitted to as many driving axles as desired.

As shown, the drive shaft Iis disposed lonuany in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1. situdinally of the 1ocomotive and isvsupported by the gear unit I9. The shaft I8 is connected to the reverse gear unit I'I by means of a longitudinally movable coupling comprising a cylindrical member 23 having internal gear teeth and a slidable member 24 having external gear teeth which mesh with the teeth in the member 23.

, member 24 and is actuated by a rotatable shaft 21 disposed transversely of the frame I0 in suitable bearings 28. The shaft 21 may be rotated by a rodA 29, one end of which is connected to an arm 3| on the end of the shaft 2l. The other end of the rod 29 may be connected to a suitable control lever in the operators cab. If desired, the operation of the member 24 may be pneumatically or hydraulically controlled in a manner well known in the art.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided a double-reduction gear drive structure which makes it possible to transmit torque from a steam turbine, or other suitable prime mover to any desired number of driv-` ing axles on a locomotive. The provision ofthe present structure makes it possible to utilize a locomotive running gear having a relatively short wheel base which is highly desirable and at the same time reduces the weight of the running gear. Furthermore; the utilization of an inside .frame also reduces the weight and cost of the running gear.

We do not desire to be restricted to the particular form or arrangement of parts herein I shown and' described, since it is evident that they may be changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention as dened in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a locomotive having a frame and a plurality ofi pairs of driving axles, in combination, a turbine having its axis disposed longitudinally 1 of the locomotive frame, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the locomotive and connected to the turbine, a reduction gear unit disposed between a pair of adjacent axles for driving both axles of said pair from said drive shaft, a housing enclosing said reduction gear unit, brackets removably securedto the locomotive frame for rigidly supporting said housing, said drive shaft being supported by and extending through said housing, a gear unit mounted on each one of said adjacent axles and cooperating with said reduction gear unit in driving said axles, and coupling means disposed between each gear unit and the reduction gear unit for movably connecting the f j gear unit tothe' reduction gear unit.

2. Ina locomotivehaving a frame and a plurality of pairs of driving axles, in combination, a

` turbine having its axis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive frame, means for supporting the turbine in the frame, a reverse gear unit for the turbine, a drive shaft extending longitudi- 1 nally of the locomotive and connected to the turbine through the reverse gear unit, a reduc- 1 tion gear unit disposed in said frame between adjacent axles for driving them from said drive shaft, a housing enclosing said reduction gear unit, brackets removably secured to the locomotive frame for rigidly supporting said housing,

said drive shaft being supported by and extending through said housing, a gear unit mounted on each of said adjacent axles and movable therewith, and coupling means disposed between each of said gear units and said reduction gear unit for connecting said gear units to the reduction gear unit and permitting relative motion therebetween.

3. In a locomotive having a frame and a plurality of pairs of driving axles, in combination, a turbine having its axis disposed longitudi- 'nally-of the locomotive frame, means for supporting the turbine in the frame, a reverse gear unit for the turbine, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the locomotive and connected to the turbine through the reverse gear unit, a reduction gear unit mounted in said frame between a pair of adjacent axles for driving both axles of said pair from said drive shaft, a housing enclosing said reduction gear unit, brackets removably secured to the locomotive frame for rigidly supporting said housing, said drive shaft being supported by and extending through said housing. a gear unit mounted on each of said adjacent axles and movable therewith, and coupling means disposed` between each of said gear units and said reduction gear unit for connecting said gear units to the reduction gear unit and permitting relative motion therebetween.

4. In a locomotive having a frame and a plurality of pairs of driving axles, in combination, a turbine having its axis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive frame, means for supporting the turbine in the frame, a reverse gear unit for the turbine, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the locomotive and connected to the turbine through the reverse gear unit, a reduction gear unit mounted in said frame between a pair of adjacent axles for driving both axles of saidy pair from said drive shaft, a housing en closing said reduction gear unit, brackets removably secured to the locomotive frame for rigidly supporting said housing, said drive shaft being supported by and extending through said housing, an additional gear unit mounted on each one of said adjacent axles and cooperating with said reduction gear unit to drive said axles, and coupling means disposed between each additional gear unit 4and the reduction gear unitV for movably connecting said gear units.

5. ln a locomotive having a frame and la plurality of pairs of driving axles, in combination, a turbine having its axis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive frame, means for supporting the turbine in the frame, a reverse gear unit for the turbine, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the locomotive and connected to the turbine through the reverse gear unit, a reduction gear unit mounted in said frame between a pair of adjacent axles for driving both axles of said pair from said drive shaft, a-

said axles, a gear case enclosing each one of 'said additional gear units and supported by theaxle, and a flexible coupling disposed between each additional gear unit and the reduction gear unit for connecting4 said gear units.

WINSTON A. BRECHT. FRANK L. ALBEN. 

